Role in IT decision-making process:Align Business & IT GoalsCreate IT StrategyDetermine IT NeedsManage Vendor RelationshipsEvaluate/Specify Brands or VendorsOther RoleAuthorize PurchasesNot Involved

Work Phone:

Company:

Company Size:

Industry:

Street Address

City:

Zip/postal code

State/Province:

Country:

Occasionally, we send subscribers special offers from select partners. Would you like to receive these special partner offers via e-mail?YesNo

Your registration with Eweek will include the following free email newsletter(s):News & Views

By submitting your wireless number, you agree that eWEEK, its related properties, and vendor partners providing content you view may contact you using contact center technology. Your consent is not required to view content or use site features.

By clicking on the "Register" button below, I agree that I have carefully read the Terms of Service and the Privacy Policy and I agree to be legally bound by all such terms.

How to Integrate Data Loss Protection in Web 2.0 Security Strategies

Businesses in all types of industries today are investing in data loss protection technology at increasingly higher rates because of the increase in corporate insider threats. As more employees utilize Web applications for real-time communications, data leak prevention has become even more complex. Here, Knowledge Center contributor Bob Hinden discusses the trends driving this new generation of insider threats and shows how businesses can implement data loss protection into their Web 2.0 security strategies.

Social networking sites and Web 2.0 applications have become pervasive in the enterprise. As Web-based tools bridge gaps between communities and wipe away physical borders, they enable people and businesses to communicate in real time. While instant messaging, Web conferencing, and peer to peer file-sharing and social networking sites can provide a wealth of advantages in the enterprise, they are becoming the newest entry points for Internet threats, compliance violations and data loss.

The Web 2.0 world has made security more complex, and organizations are looking for a comprehensive approach to security that reduces-not multiplies-the number of threats, as well as eases management and regulatory challenges faced by IT managers.

For many companies, social networking and Web 2.0 applications have moved well beyond just personal use to help businesses market their products and optimize workforces.

For example, human resources may be using LinkedIn to research employee prospects, sales teams may leverage Facebook to legitimately interact with customers, and marketing departments may utilize Twitter to share headlines or expand the visibility of their latest news announcement.

Further reading

The ease of sharing information, combined with real-time communications, makes many of these tools very compelling. And such trends are expected to continue, with enterprise spending on Web 2.0 technologies projected to reach $4.6B globally by 2013. Businesses can't ignore the opportunity to increase productivity by leveraging these new tools.